What you need to know about shipping dangerous goods

“What you need to know about shipping dangerous goods

On August 4, 2021, a series of explosions occurred in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, killing 200 people, injuring 5,000, and destroying much of the city. The explosion was traced to 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a warehouse. The UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods classify ammonium nitrate as an oxidizing agent and therefore dangerous. In India, it is classified as an explosive under the Explosives Act 1884.

This disaster, and others like it, are a stark reminder of the importance of safety in the transportation and storage of dangerous goods. This is why the transport of dangerous goods is highly specialized and regulated. In this blog, we take a deep dive into dangerous goods and what it’s all about transporting it.
what is dangerous goods
It is very important to know what dangerous goods are before shipping, Dangerous goods are also called hazardous material, hazmat and hazardous cargo. Dangerous goods can exist in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. They can be colorless or colored, hot or cold, odorless or pungent. They can be caustic chemicals, explosives, batteries, and even everyday items like hairspray, perfume, aftershave, alcohol and lighters.

What is a dangerous goods category
The UN Committee of Experts has issued recommendations on the transport of dangerous goods. These recommendations are adopted by regulators responsible for different modes of transport.
In order to ensure safe transportation, it is essential to fully understand the characteristics of dangerous goods. Commodities classified as Dangerous Goods contain hazardous substances that may harm humans, living organisms and the environment in various ways. All hazardous materials are marked with a unique UN number. The regulation is based on a classification system that classifies substances or articles into one of nine categories based on the nature of the hazard. Category 1 is the most dangerous and Category 9 is the least dangerous. Dangerous goods categories are as follows:

Class 1 – Explosives
Class 2 – Gases
Class 3 – Flammable Liquids
Class 4 – Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
Class 5 – Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
Class 6 – Toxic and Infectious Substances
CLASS 7 – RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
Class 8 – Corrosives
Class 9 – Miscellaneous Hazardous Substances and Articles, Including Environmentally Hazardous Substances

In addition to the category, dangerous goods are assigned a UN number, a proper shipping name (PSN) and a packing group used as an identifier.
UN Number: This is a four-digit code starting with the letters UN. UN numbers can be assigned to a single substance (acetone, UN 1090) or to a group of substances (adhesive, UN 1133; alcohol, UN 1987).
PSN: This is the name that most accurately describes the item, capitalized. For example, the PSN for a lighter or lighter refill is LIGHTERS or LIGHTER REFILLS.

Packing Groups: The United Nations has three packing groups for dangerous goods – I (high risk), II (moderate risk) and III (low risk). This identifier helps determine the level of protective packaging required. Packing groups are denoted by the letters X, Y and Z, where X stands for packing groups I, II and III, Y for packing groups II and III, and Z for packing group III only. For example, dangerous goods of class 1 (explosives) are assigned to packing group II.

Dangerous Goods Shipping Requirements
1. Correctly classify the goods.
It is important to prevent incompatible classes of hazardous materials from coming into contact with each other, as they may have a highly dangerous reaction, such as an explosion or release of toxic vapors. Many categories of goods need to be stored in separate containers, and some chemicals or hazardous substances need to be transported in completely separate vehicles. Transport dividers can be used to separate dangerous goods in transit.


More information can be found in our hazmat isolation guide, which includes a simple hazmat isolation diagram. We recommend printing it out, so isolation is a top priority for the entire Hazmat team.
2. Pay attention to the storage temperature.
Certain items, such as peroxides, need to be kept below a certain temperature to prevent any reaction from occurring.
Always know the temperature at which your materials need to be stored and control shipping conditions accordingly. Learn more about temperature control in Safe Work Australia’s Hazardous Materials Safety Data Sheets.
3. Know your flash point.
Likewise, it’s important to store flammable items below their flash point – to prevent explosions and fires. Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a flammable liquid vapor ignites.
Different liquids have different flash points, some below 0 degrees Celsius. Make sure everyone on the team understands the flashpoints of dangerous goods before shipping them.
4. Have the correct shipping documents.
In the case of dangerous goods shipments, regulatory agencies can request documentation at any time. It is crucial to have shipping documents on hand, providing all required information about the cargo carried in the vehicle.
Shipping documents must have the name and phone number of the shipper and a description of the dangerous goods that need to meet specific guidelines. These vary by state, so please contact your local authority for the latest information.
Also, some states have embargoed areas where hazardous goods cannot be shipped, so keep this in mind when planning your shipping routes.
5. Properly label items.
In most states in Australia, all hazardous chemicals must be labelled in accordance with the Global Harmonisation System (GHS) requirements outlined by the United Nations. These include primary and secondary containers used in shipping, so all of your storage units must meet GHS labeling requirements.
6. Uninstall carefully.
When unloading dangerous goods, please strictly follow the safety regulations. Make sure to clear any obstructions and minimize traffic (vehicles and people) in the area. If you are carrying hazardous materials up and down stairs, check that you have installed adequate stair safety products, such as concrete stair treads.

Some of the important and common documents used in the transport of dangerous goods include:
Material Safety Data Sheet: In addition to basic information, it contains physical and chemical properties of the cargo (melting/boiling point), reactivity, toxicity, effects on human health, first aid and fire fighting guidelines, protective equipment requirements. It is provided by the manufacturer/supplier of the goods to the shipper, who submits it to the carrier.
Dangerous Goods (DG) Request: When a shipper approaches a carrier with a dangerous goods cargo, they submit a Dangerous Goods Request or Dangerous Goods Request.
Dangerous Goods (DG) Declaration: Also prepared by the shipper, similar to a DG request, but more detailed. Carriers accept dangerous goods shipments based on a dangerous goods request and a dangerous goods declaration, both of which must have matching information. Dangerous goods declarations are called shipper declarations in air transport. In multimodal transport, a multimodal transport declaration can be used to expedite the movement of goods between modes of transport.
Dangerous Goods Manifest: Prepared by the Master to contain all relevant cargo-related information in one document. It is kept on the bridge and a copy is kept in the cargo control room for easy access. The Hazardous Goods List is also a stowage plan as it identifies the location of the cargo on board to ensure a prompt emergency response.
Transport Emergency (TREM) Card: A document carried by the driver of a vehicle transporting dangerous goods that contains relevant cargo information and instructions to the driver and emergency responders.
Container Packing Certificate: When shipping dangerous goods by sea in containers, the loading company must provide the carrier with a signed and dated certificate confirming compliance with the IMDG Code and other relevant regulations.

Special handling required to minimize risk and damage
Dangerous goods have special shipping requirements to eliminate or minimize risk. All dangerous goods need to be properly packaged and labelled, they need to be properly stored, loaded and stored, and they need special handling throughout the transport chain. Additionally, everyone who handles hazardous materials requires special training. Everyone in the hazardous material transport chain must fully understand the risks and actions required to minimize potential damage and accidents. They need to know how to handle such shipments, how to react and what to do if something goes wrong.
These types of cargo have different requirements, such as chemicals that become dangerous when wet need to be transported in dry conditions, and cargo that needs to be kept cold should not be heated. Some shipments are not allowed to be stored together in the same container and must therefore be properly segregated. In the event of an accident, these cargoes could interact with serious consequences. Container locations on ships must also be regulated and must be kept at an appropriate distance from other dangerous goods. These measures are as important on ships as they are in warehouses, loading docks and ports.

The Importance of Training When Handling Hazardous Materials
From stevedores, packers and equipment operators to transporters and workers responsible for documentation, dangerous goods pose a threat to countless lives. Awareness and training are key to their safety.
All of these people must be properly trained, not just for their specific function
They must be aware of regulations related to cargo, ports, destination countries, documentation and reporting
Training provisions are contained in the IATA DGR, IMDG Rules, ADRs, RIDs and ADNs. Training can take place in-house or through online courses and workshops
There are five types of training – general awareness, specific functions, safety, security and driver training

Liability of different carriers
The safe transportation of dangerous goods requires the full attention of every worker in the logistics chain. However, the greatest responsibility lies with the shipper and the carrier.

Shipper’s Liability
Assign correct class, PSN, hazard data to cargo
Pack the goods properly, secure them in pallets (if required) and load them into containers
Make sure others (packers, container stuffers) follow the rules and regulations
Prepare and submit accurate and complete paperwork
Inform the carrier about stowage precautions, especially for cargoes that would react with other cargoes if put together
Carrier Liability
Check if the goods are allowed to be transported according to the rules
Make sure that the documents, certificates submitted by the shipper are in order
Physical inspection of labels, signs, markings for accuracy
Check the packaging for leaks and other damage
Prepare a list of dangerous goods and ensure that the goods are kept as far away from the accommodation area as possible
Ensure all crew are instructed on emergency procedures
Notify the port of discharge authority
If required, report the shipment to the appropriate reporting agency”